King George III Visits Hartlebury Castle

On the 2nd August 1788, King George III, Queen Charlotte, the Princess Royal, the Princesses Augusta and Elizabeth together with the Duke of York had breakfast in the library at Hartlebury Castle. The King had been 'taking the waters' at Cheltenham and the Royal Party had set out from there at 7.00 am, in three coaches, to travel the 33 miles to Hartlebury, arriving at 11.30 am to be greeted at the Great Hall door by the Bishop of Worcester, Richard Hurd. A breakfast of tea, coffee, chocolate, fruit and jellies was set out in the bay window of the library where they were waited upon by the bishop himself. After breakfast, the Royal family, their entourage and the bishop went into the chapel garden where they walked on the terraces for three-quarters of an hour to the acclaim of 'at least eight thousand spectators'. At 2.00 pm the carriages drove up to the Great Hall door and the Royal Party set off back to Cheltenham.